Ma Cuihua retorted confidently, "What dowry did we prepare for you? Are you blind? Didn't we use our own Chinese toon tree to make cabinets and chairs for you? Didn't we use new cotton to cover your quilts? Didn't we buy you new shoe cloth to make shoes?"
Yan Yan finally couldn't hold back anymore and cried out with red eyes, "Is this all you've prepared for my dowry? Open your eyes and look around! These days, when a daughter gets married, who gives her just a few pieces of wood and a few quilts? Everyone buys their daughter a sewing machine and a bicycle."
"If you won't give it to me, I won't take it. I'll earn the money to buy it myself, okay? You still want to squeeze every penny out of me. Have you ever seen such heartless parents?"
Finally, she voiced her heartache and grievances. Tears streamed down Yan Yan's face, and Su Xueli couldn't wipe them away in time.
This daughter, who had always been subservient to her mother, suddenly rebelled, leaving Ma Cuihua momentarily stunned. But she quickly recovered, sat down on the ground, and unleashed her tried-and-true tactic, clapping her hands and wailing, "Oh dear mother, my daughter thinks I'm poor, that I can't afford to buy her a sewing machine or a bicycle... she dislikes the new furniture I made for her, the new quilt I gave her, the new shoes I made for her... Oh mother, I haven't had a single good day since I married into this family. I gave birth to five children, working day and night, busy in the fields and taking care of the elderly and the young. I finally managed to raise my daughter, and now she's not even on my side before she gets married, she just wants to exploit me..."
Yan Yan was used to being manipulated and had a soft heart. Seeing this scene, she trembled with fear, slid off the bed to the floor, and knelt down. "Mother, please don't say that. I didn't look down on you for being poor, nor did I look down on the dowry you gave me. I was wrong, I was wrong. I'll give you all the money..."
Su Xueli pulled her up and pinched her hard on the back. Then, pretending to be a peacemaker, she said to Ma Cuihua, "Auntie, look how angry you are. I'll take Yanyan to my house and talk to her properly. You and your brothers should quickly take your mother back to her room so that no one can hear and laugh at us."
He then forcibly dragged Yan Yan outside.
Ma Cuihua clearly heard her daughter apologize and say she would give her the money; she's not stupid enough to miss this opportunity.
She didn't need to pull herself up; she jumped up and grabbed Yan Yan, then said to Su Xue Li, "Xue Li, don't bother, you're just causing trouble. I'll teach her a lesson."
Then he asked impatiently, "Where's the money? Give it to me right now."
Su Xueli pinched Yan Yan again, waking her up. Yan Yan hardened her heart and changed her words: "I... I'll keep the money myself. I want to buy a down jacket."
"Oh, Yan Yan, don't add fuel to the fire. Come on, come on, come home with me and let your aunt calm down." Su Xueli reached out and pulled Ma Cuihua's hand away from Yan Yan's.
Yan Yan was pushed and pulled out of the house by her.
When they arrived at Su Xueli's room, she closed the door, pulled Yan Yan to sit on the edge of her bed, and praised her: "Yan Yan, you did the right thing, daring to stand up for yourself and not give your mother any money."
But in the end, he chickened out. If I hadn't arrived in time, everything would have been for nothing.
Yan Yan was still trembling with fear. She sobbed, "But Xue Li, you saw it, my mother can eat me."
Not to mention Yan Yan, who was bullied by her mother and was terrified, even Su Xue Li was frightened when she saw her mother's fierce and menacing appearance.
Mingming Yanyan's mother was beautiful, but her eyes were full of murderous intent and ferocity; even ghosts would avoid her.
Su Xueli had heard her mother say that when Yan Yan's mother married into the village, she was incredibly beautiful. All the men in the village, young and old, praised her highly, and even the lecherous ones couldn't resist her charm.
But nowadays... marriage really can change a person!
Su Xueli encouraged her, "Your mother is a human, not a tiger. She can't eat you up, and she wouldn't dare to go too far, because you'll be getting married in a few months, and they're still wary of your fiancé who gets a government-subsidized job."
At that time, those who worked for the government were very powerful. They were very proud that their daughters had married such capable men. Although they hadn't gotten any benefits from their future sons-in-law yet, once their daughters married him and the two families became one, their four sons would definitely benefit from it.
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